Can Coconut Milk Increase Cholesterol?
Coconut milk, high in saturated fat and calories, can increase your low-density lipoprotein -- "bad" cholesterol -- and expand your waistline. But some evidence suggests that coconut oil, the fat in coconut milk, may increase your "good" high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Research about the possible heart-healthy benefits of coconut milk is limited and less than solid.
Coconut Milk and Low-Fat Milk
Coconut milk, like all plant-based foods and beverages, contains no dietary cholesterol. But it contains 16 times the amount of saturated fat as low-fat milk and almost four times as many calories. One cup of coconut milk contains 42.7 g of saturated fat, compared to 1.8 g in 1 cup of 1 percent milk. Coconut milk contains 445 calories per 1 cup serving, and low-fat milk provides 118. Coconut milk contains 11 percent of the calcium found in low-fat milk -- 41 mg compared to 349 mg. Coconut milk provides iron, niacin, phosphorus and potassium. Low-fat milk provides vitamins A and D.
Saturated Fat
One cup of coconut milk contains 2 1/2 times the amount of saturated fat you should consume in a day, according to the American Heart Association. The AHA recommends you limit saturated fat intake to 16 g of saturated fat daily. If you ate five quarter-pound hamburgers, you'd consume less saturated fat than if you added a cup of coconut milk to a smoothie. Other foods that contain less saturated fat than 1 cup of coconut milk include 28 oz. of beef sirloin, 14 oz. of pork chops and 1/4 cup of butter.
http://www.livestrong.com/
